When I started building my own home gym, one of the most difficult things I faced was finding equipment that fit in my limited space.
After making various blunders, I have finally found the best compact home gym for me. It allows me to work my entire body and I appreciate the fact that it’s space-saving.
If you have searched the web for a compact home gym and found yourself reeling with indecision, this review will help you make up your mind.
In a Hurry? Here is our top pick:
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Best Compact Home Gym
- Bowflex PR3000 – Best Overall
- Marcy Multifunction Steel Home Gym – Runner-up
- Weider Ultimate Body Works
- Total Gym XLS
- Body Boss 2.0
- Power Press Push Up Board
- Fusion Motion Portable Gym
- Gorilla Bow Portable Home Gym
- OYO Personal Gym
- ICON Fitness Gold’s Gym XRS 50
- Bullworker Steel Bow
- Bodygym Portable Home Gym
- Simply Fit Board
- Bodyblade Classic Kit
- Wonder Core Fitness Equipment
Reviews – Best Compact Home Gyms
1. Bowflex PR3000 – Best Overall
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Bowflex is a full-body home gym that is way ahead of its competitors. You can do a variety of exercises, as many as 50 strength exercises to be precise, without the need to change the cables in between sets.
Perhaps the best aspect of this home gym is its power rod resistance which provides as little as 5lb. and as much as 210lb. of resistance. Thus both beginners and professionals can adjust the resistance based on their level.
If you’re a beginner and are unsure how to use the machine, the instructional placards will help you understand how to start. Additionally, the hand grips and ankle cuffs do add quite a bit of flexibility and performance to your workout.
Bowflex home gym comes with roller cushions that allow for comfortable leg curls and extensions so you don’t have to worry about hurting yourself.
Users can rest assured that the heavy-duty steel construction is going to ensure durability and longevity.
Pros
- Use for over 50 different exercises
- Full body workout
- Heavy-duty steel construction
- No-change cable pulley
- Allows for variable resistance
Cons
- Doesn’t contain spare parts
2. Marcy Multifunction Steel Home Gym – Runner-up
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This product is ideal for those who are looking for various attachments to their basic home gym setup.
It’s 150lb. weight plate stack is used for the various stations on the home gym, providing enough resistance for all your exercise needs. The arms of the home gym can be used for both press arms as well as butterfly arms with a simple switch of a lock knob.
For pull-ups and other upper body workouts, there is a Lat Bar that can be pulled down. On the other hand, the lower pulley provides for a wide range of rows and leg extensions so you won’t have any excuse for skipping out on leg day. The construction design is impeccable and highly durable as well since it is constructed from heavy-duty 14-gauge steel.
The preacher curl pad is one of the highlights of this home gym. It is easily adjustable and can be used to perform hammer curls, barbell curls, and lower pulley in a seated position. To avoid straining the back, you can add the curl pads as you please.
Pros
- Durable steel construction
- 150lb. of resistance plates
- Contains preacher curl pads
- Instructional workout chart
- Convenient switching between exercises
Cons
- Assembly can be tricky
3. Weider Ultimate Body Works
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Now, if you are looking for something that can get the job done without occupying much space then Weider home gym might just be what you’re looking for.
With an exercise bench that can expand and collapse, the telescopic design accommodates a variety of user heights and exercises. The introduction of 4 different resistance bands provides an additional 50 lb. of resistance, which comes in handy as you level up.
The equipment can easily be stowed under a closet or a bed – such is its space saver design. Weider home gym is perfect for those who live in apartments and those who prefer to keep their homes clutter-free. With this home gym, you can do exercises such as seated chest press, squats, v-crunch, and lateral pull-down to strengthen and tone your body.
Read our Weider Ultimate Body Works Review.
Pros
- Durable construction
- Foam cushion material
- 50 lb. of additional resistance
- Adjustable inclined training
- Easy to assemble
Cons
- Very short warranty period
4. Total Gym XLS
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Next up, we have yet another space saving home gym equipment, this time by Total Gym. Not only is this product very affordable, but it is also decked with the features that only highly-priced gym equipment would have.
With just one single glide board and a few attachments, this gym equipment allows you to strengthen and sculpt a variety of muscle groups in your body. Moreover, it comes with a wall chart with 35 exercises, so that both beginners and advanced gym fanatics can easily use the equipment.
Thanks to its nylon strap handles, combined with the pulley and cable system, you can easily work on both cardio and strength training – all on a single machine. There is no assembly required whatsoever and all the equipment is easily folded into two for storage purposes.
Pros
- High value for money
- Has an exercise wall chart
- No assembly necessary
- Easy storage
- Complimentary nutritional program guide
Cons
- Pulley position is too low for a few exercises
5. Body Boss 2.0
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This is one workout package that you can bring with you wherever you go. There’s no need for heavy weights and arduous training equipment when you have got yourself this compact home gym.
With this purchase, you receive a variety of accessories. These include the likes of grip base and floor padding, a pull-up bar, resistance bands, a door anchor, straps, and handles.
This product is very lightweight and compact, and yet can deliver enough versatility. With just your bodyweight, you can perform as many as 300 different exercises. These exercises can be adjusted to become easier or harder. Now, even when you are away from your home, you can bring this gym equipment with you to stay fit and well-toned.
Read our BodyBoss Home Gym 2.0 Review.
Pros
- Highly portable
- Lightweight and compact
- Perform over 300 exercises with just your bodyweight
- Simulates gym equipment perfectly
- Comes with workout guides
Cons
- May have to buy additional bands to increase resistance
6. Power Press Push Up Board
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Sometimes all you require is simple equipment that gets the job done. This is the basic principle with this Power Press push up board as well.
People assume that a push-up bar is only good for the upper body but in reality, it can be used for so much more.
There are a wide variety of exercises you can do to strengthen the lower body with a push-up board. To facilitate users who are not aware of them, you also get access to a 10 week YouTube program that sculpts and tones the upper as well as the lower body.
The assembly can be done in a matter of seconds and storage is super easy thanks to the minimalist design of the push-up board.
One defining feature of this push-up board is that its hand grips can be arranged in a variety of angles. The board is color-coded to make it easy for you to identify where to place the hand grips to work different muscle groups.
Pros
- Works both upper and lower body
- Access to a 10-week exercise program
- Easy assembly and storage
- Non-slip hand grips
- Color-coded angles for easy identification
Cons
- The board may feel plastic-like
7. Fusion Motion Portable Gym
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Here we have a well-constructed home gym product. This is perhaps the easiest home gym to use. With only a few accessories such as handle pushups, bar, elastic bands, a wheel, door anchor, and a couple of handles, you can train every muscle group in your body with exceptional ease.
The main base is constructed with steel-reinforced so you won’t have to worry about it breaking over years of rough use. The tension elastic bands provide enough resistance for even the most strenuous workouts. The wheel can be used to work on the abs and core muscles while the bar and the pushup handles are ideal for upper body workout.
Where most home gym equipment is only good to support light to medium loads, Fusion Motion Portable Gym shines by supporting heavy loads as well.
The product comes with a detailed instructional guide with 200+ exercises that you can refer to. It doesn’t matter whether you are a beginner or a professional, these exercises are sure to challenge you to your limits.
Pros
- Contains an exercise guide
- Easy to assemble and store
- Ideal for upper and lower body workout
- Solid steel construction
- Highly ergonomic in design
Cons
- A little on the expensive side
8. Gorilla Bow Portable Home Gym
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This is one of the most unique resistance bands in the market today. Shaped like a bow, it doesn’t allow you to cheat as it prevents you from using momentum to complete a rep. At only 3 lb., it can provide up to 120 lb. of tension.
Its lightweight construction ensures that you can take it with you wherever you go. It is also only 47” in length and can be easily stowed away. It is easy to assume that this gym is only for beginners, but even professionals will find it to be quite challenging. The resistance bands are easily adjustable, which allows anyone to use it.
Another amazing thing is that this compact home gym is very affordable and costs less than a set of dumbbells. So, if you’re looking to stay in shape on a budget, this home gym by Gorilla Fitness is your best bet.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Easy to store and highly portable
- 3 resistance bands
- Very safe to use
- Affordable
Cons
- Doesn’t include an instructional guide for exercises
9. OYO Personal Gym
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The next product on our list is one that has been studied and proven by NASA to increase muscle size and strength as much as free weights. In fact, it has also been used by astronauts for over 10 years on the International Space Station.
The Spiraflex technology of this home gym equipment makes weights obsolete as it provides varying levels of resistance for both beginners and professionals.
This home gym features DoubleFlex activation which provides resistance to opposing muscle groups, allowing you to build body strength in no time.
To ensure that users overachieve and keep injuries at bay, it is recommended that you snap on FlexPacks in 5 and 10 lb.. increments. By doing so, the resistance will feel linear and smooth and simulate the experience of free weights (without any impact on the joints), unlike resistance bands that have a progressive feel to it.
With this compact home gym, you can work on a variety of muscle groups such as the back, chest, arms, core, legs, and abs.
The resistance cables are made of nylon coated stainless steel while the body of the equipment is made from heavy-duty polymer, which is a testimony to its durability.
Pros
- Durable and well constructed
- Technology has been studied and used by NASA astronauts
- Easy to store and assemble
- Highly portable
- Ergonomic handgrips
Cons
- Some users have felt the resistance to be quite low
10. ICON Fitness Gold’s Gym XRS 50
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Next up we have a standard home gym that doesn’t experiment with the design much and keeps things simple. If you prefer standard gym equipment and are looking to get it at an affordable rate, this product by ICON Fitness is your best bet.
The chest press and fly station can work out your upper body muscles while the high pulley can take care of your back muscles. The low pulley is meant to tone your glutes and leg muscles. The lat bar can be gripped in multiple ways depending on the exercise that you are performing.
The vinyl seats are very comfortable and are quite durable as well. The whole equipment is constructed from heavy-duty steel and is sure to stay together for many years. In all, there is 112 lb. of the vinyl weight stack, 112 lb. of weights, and 280 lb. of resistance.
Pros
- Provides enough resistance for users at all levels
- Durable steel construction
- Has an exercise wall chart
- Affordable
- Covers a wide range of exercises and muscle groups
Cons
- Setting it up can take some time
11. Bullworker Steel Bow
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This is one is a highly versatile gym equipment that can sculpt your muscles, tone your body, and burn fat. It’s proven to increase strength and engage muscle fibers up to 66% faster than traditional weight training.
There are five different string resistances to choose from that provide varying levels of challenges to both beginners and professionals. It can easily be used in homes and offices, and ideal for travelling. Its Iso-motion allows you to make a full joint rotation while exercising. This helps strengthen, tone, and define the muscles.
Pros
- Highly versatile
- Portable
- Multiple resistance springs
- Low impact training
Cons
- Spring changing is a hassle
12. Bodygym Portable Home Gym
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Here we have a simple resistance band that you can use to work out at home quite easily. It is very lightweight, doesn’t require any installation, and is highly portable.
Since it is designed by a professional athlete, it takes into account the various muscle groups that need to be exercised. As such, it provides an all-in-one full body workout that works on endurance, flexibility, and agility.
Instructional guides and DVDs are provided to guide you through the workout program. Results are seen after as little as 9 minutes of training. If you’re not satisfied, you can return the product within 30 days and get your money back.
Pros
- Adjustable straps
- Quick adjust resistance
- Workout guide included
- Portable design
Cons
- Can be a little unstable at times
13. Simply Fit Board
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This fit board is fun to use and makes exercise seem like play. Using it will definitely improve your sense of balance and coordination.
It is made from strong ABS plastic that is lightweight and durable. It can support up to 400lb. of weight and has an anti-slip surface. It can easily be packed and stored, even in a bag pack. The board can be used for a complete body workout as it can be used as a plank board, a push-up board, and a twist board.
Pros
- Versatile
- Improves balance
- Durable plastic
- Anti-slip surface
- Highly portable
Cons
- Not very durable
14. Bodyblade Classic Kit
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This training equipment is designed by a physical therapist. It allows for a smooth and variable-resistive workout. It adjusts automatically to the fitness level of the user.
It is both lightweight and portable, and comes with an instructional guide. You can work on many different muscle groups with this equipment. As a zero impact training method, it improves your balance, coordination, and strength.
Pros
- Portable
- Lightweight
- Efficient Workout method
- Adjusts to the needs of the user
Cons
- Doesn’t offer a lot of resistance
15. Wonder Core Fitness Equipment
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This core fitness equipment by Wonder Core is easily one of the best in terms of design. It provides a total body workout in one compact system.
With this, you can target a variety of muscle groups, including your arms, abs, thighs, glutes, calves, triceps, forearms, and biceps.
There is no need for assembly. Both beginners and professionals can use it, since it comes with adjustable dual resistance.
Pros
- Highly compact and portable design
- Comes pre-assembled
- Has adjustable dual resistance
- Works out the whole body
- Comes with an app
Cons
- Is susceptible to breakage
Buying Guide – How to choose the Best Compact Home Gym?
Now, let us identify the things that an ideal home gym should contain depending on your needs.
How to choose the best compact home gym?
To choose the best compact home gym, it is important to know what your fitness goals are. Because different fitness equipment will offer different workout options.
If you want to achieve a full-body workout, look for machines that provide weight management, flexibility and muscle tone, and cardio exercising. Some compact gyms, such as Weider Ultimate Body Works, even provide an adjustable inclined bench for bench press and abs training.
On the other hand, if you are looking for serious bodybuilding and weight lifting, your prime focus should be on resistance. The higher the resistance, the greater the muscle work will be. Compact home gyms, such as Marcy Multifunction Steel Home Gym, have presses, lat pulldowns, and stacked weights – everything with adjustable resistance, are perfect for muscle sculpting.
Amount of Required Space
If you’re going to bring the gym home, you should consider how much space you are willing to give up for it. When researching online, know the exact dimensions of the equipment that you are interested in, including the attachments.
Some exercises, such as the leg extension or chest fly, add to the space and need to be taken into account when figuring out how much space is required. If you are really short of space but don’t want to sacrifice on your fitness, then either OYO Personal Gym or Body Boss 2.0 should be your best bet.
Is it easy to use?
Another important consideration to make is on assembly and safety. Having multiple accessories and extensions are fine, but if they are a pain to assemble and use, you’re better off without them.
Most compact home gyms come with instructional manuals that teach you how to set them up. However, what’s better is to have a one-piece gym with multiple adjustable parts. The easier it is to set up, the safer it is for you to use it. Check out Power Press Push Up Board if you’re looking for something hassle-free.
Once your gym corner is all set up, the ergonomics come into play. How easy is your equipment to work with? Regardless of whether you have a machine with multiple moving parts or not, you should know how to correctly use your machine. For the most ergonomic compact home gym, check out Fusion Motion Portable Gym.
How much are you willing to spend?
A compact home gym can range anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. Of course, it all depends on the quality and features offered. If you’re going to invest in high-quality equipment, prepare to dole out a couple of thousand dollars for a multi-station machine.
However, another possibility is to get an affordable compact home gym and invest some of the money you save on complementary equipment, such as gym mats, resistance bands, fitness balls, and the like. As an example, the Total Gym XLS provides a high value for money. And you can complement it with a few additional purchases to complete your home gym.
What are the advantages of a compact Home Gym?
The simplest and most obvious advantage is the fact that you save the time that it takes for you to commute to and from your gym. Additionally, in the long run, your compact home gym is going to be extremely cost-effective as compared to your gym memberships.
It is also easier to stick to your health goals when the gym is in your home. You don’t have to put much effort into going to the gym every day. And, no excuses seem reasonable when you have complete access to a home gym all the time.
Conclusion
Keeping in mind all the considerations that we have made, the best compact home gym equipment comes out to be Bowflex PR3000. It is easy to install, well constructed, ergonomic in design, and doesn’t take up a lot of space.
A close second is Marcy Multifunction Steel Home Gym for the same reasons and only lags behind in terms of easy assembly. Other than that, there is practically no difference and you can get either of the two without any qualms.
I hope that you enjoyed this review and come away with some useful information. Always remember to read the instructional manual and never add more resistance than necessary, to avoid hurting yourself. With any of the mentioned compact home gym, you can completely change your attitude towards fitness and get the required reps in without ever stepping out of your house.
